Assembling apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug 17 1943- A. E. sUMMl-:Rs ETAL ASSEMBLING APPARATUS Filed DEC. 4, 1941 Aug. 17, 194, A. E. sUMMl-:Rs ETAL AS SEMBLING APPARATUS Filed Deo. 4, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fnv/.wrom A. SUMME/P5 J. H. TaML/A/ r/ AUTOR/V57 lthe base plate.

Patented Aug. 1*7, 1943 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE As SEMBIJNG APPARATUS Albert E. Summers, Riversidepa'nd James H. Y Tomlin, `La Grange, Ill., assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, N. Y., a corporation of New York New York,

-Applricamm December 4, 1941, serial No. 421,620v

- f 4 claims. (c1. .2s-s4) members of insulation and metal interposed be,-A tween ythe rowsv of terminal elements, the whole being clamped between base and top plates and secured by a plurality of screws threaded into n manual assembling of such terminal banks it is desirous that the assembly operations beperformed with a minimum yof fatigue to an operatoras well as to the amount of time expended in order to economically produce such banks.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple and practical apparatus for economically assembling ina facile manner superimposed rows of predeterminedlyspaced electric terminal elements.

In accordance'lwith one embodiment of this invention, as used for assembling the hereinbe-A fore described terminal banks, there is provided an apparatus comprising a Vstationary support for a terminal bank base plate, means for clamping the base plate to the support, stationary and movable slotted members for predeterminedly positioning the terminal elements of each row in spaced'relation on the baserplate. The movable member is carried by an elevator tab-le upon which a supply of terminal elements are placed so that they may be readily individually manually slid therefrom into predetermined closely adjacent positions into and between the slotted members. As each row of terminal elements with its insulators'and metal spacing members are assembled the table is elevated from an initial lowered position a predetermined distance, retained thereat by a lever andv latch mechanism, to position the upper surface of the table rslightly above the level of the last row of assembled terminal elements and Aspacing members, whereby terminal elements may again be'slid from the table from a level slightly above the plane of the last assembled terminal elements and spacer members into their assembled positions. Upon the complete assemblage of the terminal bank the clamping means is released and Vthen a plurality of lever actuated knock-out pins up rows of. individual terminal elements and vin :broken outline, in assembled relation around ,the arc-shaped portion of the base plate.

Yof this invention. is used, and

.vidual metallic terminal elementsk II are operated to raise -the bank to permit itsY ready removal from the apparatus YThe elevator table is then moved to its lowermost initial position for the assembly of another bank. i The invention willbe fully understood from the.y following descriptiontaken Yini conjunction l with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan yView Voffanassembling apparatus embodying the features of .this invention, showingV aterminal kbank base plateclamped in position and a partial row of terminal elements assembled thereon, all shownr in dotted outline, and a supply of terminalelements supported upon the elevator table; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary verticalsection taken Aon the line 2-2 of Fig..1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary verticalsection taken en the une 3 3 of Eig. 1;

, Fig. 4 is a plan view of a telephone terminal' bank inthe assembling of which the apparatus Fig. 5,is an enlarged vertical sectiontaken on the line 5 5 of Fig. .4.

, AReferring now to the drawings in which an apparatus embodying `the features of. this invention is shown for use in Yassembling arcuate shaped telephone terminal banks I0 (Figs. 4 and 5.), one of whichis shownipartially assembled in Vertical cross section in Fig. 2.-V The terminal bank I0 comprises a plurality of closely arranged superimposed or piled up rows of indiin Vclose laterally spaced relation with arcuate metal plates `I2 and arcuate insulating members I3 interposed between the rows of terminal elements. The assembled rows of terminal elements II are held between an arcuate metal base plate I4 and .an arcuate metal top plate- I6 and insulating members similar to the members I3, the whole being secured Ytogether by a plurality of screws I'I extending freely through suitably arranged Aopenings in the metal plates I2. and I6 and the `insulating members I3 and threaded .into the base Aplate I4. Right angularly formed vertical mountingarms I8 and I!!Y are, formed integral Iwith the., base plate Mier securing the terminal bank` I0 to its Support on the telephone machine switching apparatus. Inj-Fig. 1 a plan view of the base plate I4 is indicated in broken outline with aew terminalelements II, also indicated The assembling apparatus comprises an open frame like structure consisting of top and bottom platesl 20 and 2| (Fig. 2) .and side plates 24 and 25 (Fig. 1) suitably secured together. Resting upon the upper surface of the top plate 20 in the initial lowered position of the apparatus, as shown in the drawings, is an elevator table or platform 26 which is rounded at its forward or lower end, as shown fragmentarily in Fig. 1, and at opposite sides extends an appreciable distance beyond the side plates 24 and 25, its rear or upper end terminating appreciably short of the upper end of the corresponding end of the top plate 20, same iigure. The table 26 at its forward end and sides is provided with a wall 2l in thev form of a rod to prevent the supply of terminal elements II from slipping olf the table. Depending from and secured to the bottom surface o theA table 2B at the outer sides of the side plates 24 and 25 are plates 28 (Fig. 3) to which are secured depending slide rods 29 which are slide-ble in upper and lower bearing blocks 3l attached to the side plates. J ournaled in the side plates 24 and 25 is a horizontally extending shaft 32 to the opposite ends ofv which are fixed levers 33 and 34 which are bifurcated at their outer ends, as indicated at 35 (Fig. 1) to embrace the slide rods 29. The furcations of the levers 33 and 34'are provided with slots 38 (Fig. 2)' into which extend opposite ends of horizontal pins A39 carried by the slide rods 29.

Pivoted at 40, for movement in a horizontal direction, upon the left hand lever 33 (Fig. 1) is a hand lever A4I which extends at itsr inner'end between furcations of a bifurcated outer end 42 of the lever 33'. Within a pocket 45 formed in the outer end of the lever 33 is a compression spring 4 which bears against a surface 41 on the' hand lever 4I to constantly urge the same in" a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1. Secured to the upper surface of the hand leverY 4I is a latch plate 50 which isarranged to engage in suitably spaced and arranged notches I (Fig. 2) provided in an outwardly directed arm 52- of a plate 53 xed to the side plate 24, the -inner edge of the latch plate 50 being normally engaged in one or the other of the notches 5I.. To unlatch the hand lever.4I it isY rocked clockwise (Fig. l) about its pivot 4.to withdraw the latch plate 50 from a notch 5I and thereafter by depressing the hand lever the latch plate may be slide downward -along the notched edge of the plate. 53 to engage in the first notch 5I. below the notch from which it was. withdrawn.V A depression of the hand lever 4I rocks the shaft 32 and attached levers 33 and 34 counter-clockwise (Fig. 2) and through the slotted lever ends engaging the pins 39 onthe slide rods 29 the latter and the attachedelevator table 26 are elevated a predetermined distance. The arrangement is such that when the table 2'6 is in its extreme lowered or normal position, as shown in the drawings, it may be intermittently raised in five successive steps, thus providing six levels for the table at each of which it may be latched to retain, it in its predetermined position. To lower the table 26 to its normal position. after being raised to its extreme upper position it is -merely necessary to withdraw the latch plate 50 from its notch 5I and while retaining it withdrawn permit the table and slide rods 23 to return to their initial lowered position, by the action'fof gravity, inwhich position the table will be rested upon the upper surface of thetop plate 20, whereupon the latch plate will ride into the top notch 5I in the plate 53 due to the spring acting against the hand lever 4I.

Secured 'nvspaced relation upon the top plate 20 at its rear or upperend, as viewed in Fig.V 1.

are L-shaped clamping members to vertical arms 56 and 51 of which the vertical mounting arms I8 and I9, respectively, of the base plate I4 are clamped. The mounting arm I8 (Figs. 1 and 4) is formed with a struck out aligning lug 53 which is also utilized for laterally aligning the base plate i4 upon the tcp plate 2. Thus, the Vertical clamping arm 53 is formed with a slot 59 into which the lug 5S is entered in placing the base plate I4 upon the top plate 2B. J ournaled in the clamping arms 5f: and 5l are shouldered clamping screws 60 each having a reduced threaded end 63 freely extending through an aperture in the arm anda reduced opposite end 64 which freely extends through an apertured vertical member B5 fixedtov the clamping member. The clamping screw 60 intermediate its ends has an enlarged portion 65 which limits movement of the screw 30 longitudinally. The screw threaded ends 63 of the screws 60 are threaded into aligned threaded'apertures In the base plate I4 by rotating handles El xedto ther'ends 64 of the screws which serve to draw the baseplate arms i8 and I9 against the clamping arms 56 and 51 to firmly clamp the base plate I4 on the top plate 20 preparatory to assemblingl the terminal elements II thereon.

Formed in the elevatortable 26 at its rear or upper end (Fig. l) is an arc-shaped' opening I0 to the' Vertical wall oi-*which is attached an arc'- shaped member TI arranged at its upper end in the plane of the upper surface of the table and depending for a distance' therebelow (Fig. 2), the depending portion extending through arr arcshaped slot 'I2 formed in the' top plate 2D. Fixed Yto the upper surface o i' the' top' plate 20 is an arc-shaped block 'I3 which is concentrc'ally arranged with the member 1I. The vopposed inner and outer faces of the member T' and block I3 are formed with aligned radial vertical slots I4 and l5, respectively, which serve to predeterminedly position the' terminal' elements i relative to each other and tol the' base plate I4'.

In' yorder'toA facilitate the removal of the as'- sem'bled terminal bank IU fromthe apparatus a plurality of vertical knock-out pins' T8 are reciprocably mounted in the' top plate 20 in anV arcshaped path and arranged to engage' the bottom surfaceof the baseV plate I4 of the terminal bank. At their lower ends the pins 13 areV fixed to a plate 'I9 and the niiddle'pin extends below the plate and into a bearing block 83 (Fig. 2) for guiding thegroup of pins' and their supporting plate. Piv'otally supported at 8I on the bottom of' the top plate 2li intermediate the side plates 2'4 and 25 i's a bell crank liand lever 8'2 having its horizontal arm extending" under and engaging the plate 'I9 and its vertical arm extending upwardly at the rear of the apparatus and above the top plate 20 so thatit may be readily grasped by an operator. l't will be apparent that by rocking the lever 82 clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, the knockout pins T3 will move upwardly and raise an assembled terminal'bank I0 above the plane of theelevator table 26.`

The top plate 2li isA formed with a plurality of apertures 83 arrangedin the arcuate path of the spaced knock-out pins T8 and aligned with the centersof the terminal bank retaining screws I1 for receiving the lower ends of the screws which project slightly from the bottom of the bank I0,

upon completion of the assembly thereof, the two apertures. in 'the' rear o`r` upper end of the top plate' (Fig. 1) for the' knock-out pins also serving to receive the' lower ends of the end screws I1.

Also formedin the top plate 20 are clearance :slots 84 for receiving lower edges'of the mounting arms I8 and I9 which extend slightly belowthe bottom surface of the base plate I4 which rests upon the top plate (Fig. 2). l i

In order to accurately align the arcuate metal plates I2 and insulating members I3 and the top plate Il of the bank terminal I during assembly with respect to the base plate I4, such plates and members being all apertured to freely receive the screws I1, a pair of removable aligning pins 85 are used which are insertedv in4 the two apertures 83 directly below the two upper knock-out pin apertures, these two apertures 83 being shouldered to receive lower shouldered ends on the aligning pins 85.

In using the above described apparatus it is to be understood that the particular apparatus is designed to facilitate the assembling of terminal banks of from one to six superimposed or piled up rows of terminal elements II, although the particular terminal bank I0 illustrated in the drawings comprises only three rows of terminals. To assemble the terminal bank I0 the elevator table 26 is initially in its lowered position resting upon the top plate 28, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the latch plate 58 being latched in the upper notch l of the plate 53. After placing a supply of terminal elements II upon the table 26, a few of which are shown in Fig. 1, the operator positions and aligns a base plate I4 upon the top plate 20 and clamps it to the arms 56 and 51 of the U-shaped clamping members byV means of the screws 6i! in the manner previously described. After placing the aligning pins 85 in the shouldered apertures 83 the operator mounts an insulating member I3 upon the base plate I4 and then slides the terminal elements II from the table 2B onto the insulating member i3 entering opposite ends of the elements in the aligned radial vertical slots 'I4 and 'I5 of the arc-shaped member 1I and block 13, as shown in broken outline in Fig. 1, the elements as they are slid into position dropping slightly onto the insulating member which is below the plane of the table top. After -a complete row of terminal elements I`I have been accurately arranged in spaced relation upon the` insulating. member I3, another member I3 followed by a metal plate I2 and another member I3 is placed over the row of terminal elements. The terminal elements II are notched along one side (Fig. l) to clear the screws I'I. i

Thereafter the operator rocks the hand lever 4I clockwise (Fig. 1) to unlatch the same from the notched plate 53 and this is followed by a slight counter-clockwise movement (Fig. 2) to relatch it in the following latchable position in the manner previously described. In this last movement of the hand lever 4I the tablev 26 is raised by means of the operating connections previously described, to position .its top surface slightly above the plane of the last assembled insulating member I3. A second row of terminal elements II and an insulatingmember, l

a metal plate and an insulating member, are then assembled and the table 26 is again raised and this is repeated until the required number of rows of terminal elements II have been assembled, not exceeding six rows, by the present apparatus. After the top row of terminal elements are in position and an insulating member placed thereover, the metal top plate I6 is mounted thereon. The assemblage is then secured together by the screws I1. Before removing the aligning pins 85 a number of the screws are threaded into-position to insure against Ydisplacement ofv the assembled parts and thereafter screws are threaded into the positions formerly occupied by the pins.

To removethe completely assembled terminal bank Il) from the apparatus the operator first unclamps' the assemblage by turning the screws `6I] out of the threaded apertures in the terminal bank mounting arms I8 and I9 by means ofthe handlesl and then rocks the hand lever 82 clockwise (Fig. 2) which as previously described raises the knock-out Apins, 18 and therewith the terminal bank such a distance that the bottom surface thereof is above the plane of the elevator table 26 in which position it can be readily grasped by the operator and removed. Upon rei leasing the hand lever 82 it and the associated parts return by the action of gravity to their normal position,.as shown in the drawings. To return the elevator table to its initial lowered position the hand lever 4I is first rocked clockwise (Fig. A1) to unlatch it whereupon while maintaining it unlatched the table and connected parts including the lever 4| return to their normal positions ready for the next assembling opary support for a base member, means for aligning and denitely positioning the base member upon said support, a vertically movable table for supporting a supply of parts to be slid therefrom onto the base member, cooperating spaced'members carried by said table and support for predeterminedly positioning the parts relative to each other and the base member, and means for raising 'and holding the table in a predetermined plane after the assembling of each row of parts whereby the parts for the following row maybe slid from the table into position between the cooperating members and over the last row of parts. i

2. In an apparatus for assembling parts 'in superimposed rows upon a base member, a stationary support for a base member, means for clamping the base member in a denite position upon said support, a vertically movable table for supporting a supply o-f parts to be slid therefrom onto the base member, cooperating notched spaced'members carried by said table and support for receiving opposite ends of the parts therebetween when slid from the table to predeterminedly position ythe parts relative to each other and the base member, and means for raising and holding said table in a predetermined plane after the assembling of each row of parts whereby the parts for the following row may be slid from the table into position between the cooperating members and over the last row of parts.

3. In an apparatus for assembling parts in superimposed rows upon a base member, a stationmember for raising the same and the assembled 10 rows of parts thereon from the support for re moval from the apparatus.

4. In an apparatus for assembling parts in superimposed rows upon a base member, a statiom ary support for a. base member, a vertically movable table for supporting a supply of parts to be slid therefrom onto the base member, cooperating spaced members carried by said table and support for predeterminedly positioning the parts relative to each other and the base member, and means for raising and holding said table in a predetermined plane after the assembling oi each rowof parts whereby the parts for the follewin'grrow may be slid from the table into position between the cooperating members and over the last row of parts. ,Y Y Y ALBERT SUMMER'S. JAMES H. TOMLIN. 

